From staff reports
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Sammy Batten of the Fayetteville Observer has been named North Carolina Sportswriter of the Year and East Carolina radio play-by-play announcer Jeff Charles has been named a co-recipient of the N.C. Sportscaster of the Year award  by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

Batten, a veteran college football reporter and recruiting analyst, is Bonesville's gridiron recruiting columnist. The award marks the third time Batten has captured the top honor from the state's sportswriters.

Charles, the "Voice of the Pirates" since 1988, is a regular contributor to Bonesville's affiliated print publications, The Pirates' Chest and Bonesville The Magazine. It's the second time Charles has won the award. He shares this year's accolade with David Glenn of the syndicated David Glenn Show.

NBC’s Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick was elected National Sportscaster of the Year and Sports Illustrated NFL writer Peter King won his third National Sportswriter of the Year Award in the last four years.

Dave Goren, the NSSA's executive director, also announced that Marv Albert and Rick Reilly have been elected to the organization's hall of fame. Albert, a longtime network play-by-play announcer, and Reilly, who spent the bulk of his career at Sports Illustrated before moving to ESPN, will be honored during the 55th Annual NSSA Awards Weekend, June 7-9 in Salisbury, NC.

Finalists were nominated by NSSA members from mid-October to mid-November. Final balloting took place during the month of December.

The NSSA is based in Salisbury.